Process and apparatus for dispersing irritants



E E., E928..

D. B. BRADNER ET AL PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING IRRITANTS Filed Feb. '7. 1925- ATTURNEY.

Patented Dec.. 11, 1928.

PATENToF Fic-E.

DONALD B. BRADNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND NICHOLAS E. OGLESBY, OF EDGEWOOD, MARYLAND, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 FEDERAL LABORATORIES, INC., 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA TION 0F DELAWARE.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DISPERSING IRRITANTS.

Application filed February 7, 1925. Serial No. 7,594.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for dispersing irritants and has more speciiic application to the dispersion of irritants in small portable fire-arms. I

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus whereby an irritating material may be dispersed thru a small fire-arm by the heat and pressure of propellant gases.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cartridge which may be used in small portable tire-arms, the cartridge being provided with a propelling charge and also irritating material, with or without an explosive charge associated therewith.

A further ob'ect of this invention is to provide a process and apparatus whereby an irritant, for example chloracetophenone or capsaicin, may be readily dispersed without the use of elaborate, heavy or `otherwise cumbersome apparatus.

Other, further and more specific objects of the invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

This invention finds special application as a substitute for the ammunition now employed in the ordinary small fire-arm. In practicing this invention, an irritant 1s Substituted for the shot or other metallic projectile of the cartridge and is propelled by the heat and pressure of the gases evolved from a propellant. This propellant is tired with the ordinary firing means provided in cartridges.

Ammunition of this character is readily portable and may be inserted vin the weapon in an instant when occasion arises for its use. This ammunition is of slnall weight, small bulk, simple and safe to use. It does not require the practice or instruction necessary with the ordinary type of ammunition' and is valuable for military purposes.

The concentration of irritant in the enclosure may be regulated at will. The dispersion of irritants such as heretofore described is very great and the irritant will penetrate into places that would be diiiicult or impossible to reach with the ordinary types of ammunition.

`vention.

cartridge, a portion of the device being broken away to illustrate the interior construction thereof.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thru a rifle car-` ti'idge `wherein an irritant is substituted for` the bullet of 'the cartridge.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section thru a short-gun cartridge /wherein an irritant has been substituted for the bullet of the cartridge.

Fig. 4 is a View similar t0 Fig. 1, showing an adaptation of this invention to mixtures of the irritant and the explosive; For pur poses of illustration a pistol cartridge is shown, but the same principle may be appropriated in a rifle cartridge or shot-gun carf ti'idge within the spirit and scope of this in- Fig. 5 is a side view showing a pistol ca r- A75r tridge with a bullet-shape container wherein this invention is employed, a portion of the device being broken away to show the interior construction thereof. Here also a pistol cartridge is illustrated, but the same principle may be applied to a rifle cartridge.

The pistol cartridge shown in Fig. 1 compri-ses a brass casing (1) and primer above which is placed a powder charge (3) at one end of the compartment formed by the casing (1)'. The primer and Ipowder chargev are preferably the usual charges in approved service ammunition, the primer consisting of potassium chloi-ate, antimony sulphide, and sull hur, and the powder charge being nitrocel ulose. Above the powder charge (3 is placed a wad (4) of fibrous material, suc as cotton, and this wad is sealed in place by sealing material, preferably paraffin. Above this wad (4) the quantity of irritant v(5) for example chloracetophenone or capsaicin, is placed and this is secured in position by means of a wad (6), similar to wad (4), which is also sealed in position like the wad When this cartridge is placed in a pistol, by tiring tho primer (2)r the powder charge (3) will be set olf and the heat and pressure produced thereby will propel the irritant (5) thru the barrel of the pistol and the irritant will then become dispersed in the air.

In the devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the powder charge (3) and irritant (5) are sealed in position similar to that in Fig. 1. In Fig. 3the powder charge (3) is separated from the casing` (l) of the cartridge by a base wad (7.) of compressed paper.

In Fig. 4, which also Shows a .45 caliber automatic pistol cartridge, the powder charge and the irritant are shown as a mixture (8). By firing the primer (2) the powder mixture will be set off, creating heat and pressure and will be forced out of the barrel of the gun carrying the irritant with it. With devices such as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the dispersion of irritant takes place at the muzzle of the un. g In the device shown in Fig. 5, the .45 caliber automatic pistol cartridge comprises the two portions (9) and (10). The portion (9) is the usual casing of the service cartridge and contains a propelling charge (11). The bullet-shape container is preferably the cupronickel shell of the service bullet, and contains the irritant which maybe intimately mixed with an explosive or fuel, or a core of a bursting charge surrounded by the irritant may be used. The materials in the two compartments'(9) and (10) are separated by a partition in which is a time fuse (12), and which is in contact with the substances in each of these compartments. A wad (13) of suitable material also separates the materials in the compartments formed by the casing (9) and (10).

When this bullet is placed in a small irearm such as a pistol, by firing the primer the propelling charge is set ott' and the heat and pressure roduced thereby propels the compartment 10) and its contents from the barrel of the pistol. The flash of the propelling charge ignites the fuse or pellet (12) which is so timed as to set off the explosive or fuel in the mixture, or else the bursting charge surrounded by the irritant, when the latter type is employed, at a predetermined time after the container 10) and its contents have been fired from the pistol. The bursting of the container by the explosive, or the burning of the fuel disperses the irritant, and the dispersion of the irritant may occur at a distance from where the cartridge is fired.

Altho ehloracetophenone andcapsaicin are illustrated as the preferred irritants in these devices, there may be also used other irritants such as diphenylaminechlorarsine, diphenylchlorarsine, bromacetophenone, iodoacetophenone, etc. These irritants should be solid at ordinary temperature and melt at 100o C. The solid organic irritants with melting points of 353-1500 C. are preferred. The propellant charge may be the usual charge in the service cartridge, and consisting of nitrocellulose powder. The'explosive in devices such as shown in Fig. 5 may vary vwith the character of the irritant and the purpose for which the device is desired, but, in most cases, black powder or finely divided smokeless powder are preferred. Vhere a fuel rather than an explosive is used to disperse the irritant, smokeless powder is preferred.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth in the foregoing examples which should be construed as illustrative and not by Way of limitation, and in View of the numerous modifications which may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, it is desired that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

wWe claim as our invention:

l. A cartridge for fire-arms containing a primer, a propellent powder, and an imn1ediately dispersable gas-generating chemical, said chemical arranged to be projected and immediately dispersed by the released energy of the propellent powder upon the firing of the cartridge.

2. A cartridge for small fire-arms containing a primer, a propellent powder adjacent said primer, 1 fuming, blinding, and disabling gas-generating chemical intimately mixed witha portion of said powder and in direct Contact with the powder adjacent the primer, and a moisture-proof seal closing said cartridge.

NICHOLAS E. OGLESBY. DONALD B. BRADNER. 

